What Size Storage Unit Do I Need?

When your home no longer has the space necessary to hold all your possessions, a storage unit may be required to handle the overflow. You may begin to wonder, “What size storage unit do I need?” Picking the right size unit is an important step in the process. A unit that is too small obviously won’t hold everything you need to store – but renting more space than you need is a waste of money.

Let’s use this article to discuss how you can estimate how much storage space you will need for your things. Also, we’d like to point out that renting a storage unit is not your only option. Instead, you could opt to build a small metal structure on your property with the help of Carport Kingdom. We make it easy to customize our structures with the Build & Price tool here on our site. You can also contact us if you have any questions.

Make a Detailed List

The journey toward finding the right size storage unit starts with listing out everything you plan to store in the space. Even if you don’t precisely know every item that you’ll want to store, starting a list that features the main pieces will help you decide what size storage unit you may need. Here are some possibilities to include in your list:

• Boxes and totes. Do you have a bunch of loose items that are collected in cardboard boxes or plastic totes? You can fit a surprising number of boxes in even a small storage unit. Try to estimate the number of boxes and totes that you will have to store and think about how many you could safely stack on top of each other (this depends on how heavy the boxes will be once filled).
• Furniture. If you are going to store any furniture pieces, the amount of space you need to have available will quickly increase. A small chair or two won’t demand a lot of room, but couches and mattresses will eat up the available room in your storage unit. Measure all furniture pieces and other large items that are going to need to fit inside the space.
• Breakables need extra space. Many of the things that go into storage can just be tossed in without as much as a second thought. For breakable or delicate items, however, more care will be required. Plan for extra space for these kinds of items so they are endangered by the rest of the stuff piled nearby.

The more time and effort you put into the process of creating this list, the easier it will be later to pick the right size storage unit.

Check the Available Options

While there are some common sizes at storage facilities – like 5’ x 5’ and 10’ x 10’ – each facility will have a unique inventory of spaces available. You’ll need to visit the storage location you plan to use to find out what they have available and how much each option costs on a monthly basis.

If you only have a modest number of things to store, a 5’ x 5’ unit may serve your needs. This is the smallest option at most facilities, and it’s great for storing boxes and totes in neat stacks. You won’t have room in this kind of storage unit for large pieces of furniture, but it could be ideal for securing extra belongings without a huge bill.

Moving In and Out

It’s important to plan for a little bit of padding when renting a storage unit. In other words, it’s not practical to rent a space that is just barely big enough for all your things, since you will need to get in and out of the storage unit to move those items and pack them away. If there is no room to even set foot in the space when it’s all filled up, you’ll struggle to use the storage in any reasonable manner.

Seeing the Bigger Picture

If you plan to need additional storage over the long run, renting a storage unit is an expense that will follow you for years. Instead, think about the big picture and consider building your own structure that can serve as a convenient, rent-free storage unit on your property. The one-time cost of a new metal structure will quickly be made up by not having to send money to a storage company each month. And, given the durable nature and low-maintenance design of buildings from Carport Kingdom, this is an investment that you won’t regret. Contact Us to get started today!